For three weeks now, Itzik Toashi, owner of the "Lord of the Rings" falafel restaurant in Tel Aviv, which quickly became one of the most successful and beloved falafel restaurants in the city, has experienced a significant drop in his income that puts his business in danger. Toashi opened "The Lord of the Rings" at Levinsky Market ten months ago. In that short time, he said, he was already dealing with a severe recession that cut revenues in half, and then came the war. It left the bustling and bustling market almost without a living soul. "I'm going to close in three months, unless something changes," he told us Sunday in an emotional conversation, adding: "The state is not considerate and there is no possibility of maintaining the business, there are no people on the streets."
The place in Levinsky, photo: Itzik Toashi
The concept of the place began from the balcony of Toashi's house in the Shapira neighborhood. Following a family tragedy, he was forced to quit his job and in order to create a source of income for the evening, he opened an improvised falafel stand on his porch. Over time, he built a device for making falafel in rings and registered it as a patent. "I opened ten months ago at 7 Merhavia Street. Levinsky Market is one of the things in Tel Aviv - for the first two months you couldn't get your foot into the market, because it was busy and then a recession hit. Labor dropped by fifty percent and then came the war."
Taushi, who often stopped the flow of his words during our conversation and burst into tears, does not convey optimism about what is to come. "I think there will be no choice, you have to make a living, I'm in debt. The banks postpone the expenses by three months, but I have nowhere to get the money. No work outside. I'll have to go back to the balcony," he says, recalling: "I lost my sister and father to illness. I had to open something from home because I had to take care of them. It caught on and after they passed away, I was free to myself so I dared to open and then Corona came in and now a second time. It's hard for me."
Dana Ivgy's post, photo: from the Instagram page
One person who did not remain indifferent to his suffering is actress Dana Ivgy, who posted a call on her followers to support him. "Want to do something good and really enjoy it? King Itzik from The Lord of the Rings will have to close his place soon because he can't keep it in its current state. So if you happen to want falafel or you're an office that makes an order or you want to donate dishes – talk to them. He's at Levinsky Market, and he really has the best falafel," she wrote.
Since Dana's story was published, do you feel there has been any change?
"It didn't have that much of an impact. There were five people yesterday who came through her husband (Itamar Shamshuni), who is a soul, gold. They met me throughout the process I went through in 'The Lord of the Rings,' but I can't risk it, they're all on their faces."
Invented the wheel,
The state is not helping?
"The state doesn't take it seriously. Arnona - why can't it be frozen? Stop everything, stop taking. Are you short of money in the Tel Aviv municipality's coffers? They think that only the envelope is closed, it's not just in the envelope. Let them come, open cameras, see Lewinsky. No work. What a wretch the people here are. People sit outside and feel like dying."
Have you spoken with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai?
"Huldai was here a month ago, coming to make a tour just before the war. He asked, 'How's the situation?' and I replied, 'How is the situation? Don't you see?! There are no people, we expel flies here, everyone. The market here is empty. There's a recession.'"
Recession and then war, photo: Yinon Antebi
Is there anything important for you to hear? A message to convey to decision makers?
"I would like the authorities to make it easier for business owners, so that if there is a possibility, they won't pay for things. Let them not give, but at least they will not take. Whatever can be stopped, let them stop. Stop the Arnona tax in Tel Aviv. The bank sends me to work. If not, he won't give me a loan."
In response to the article, the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality explained that it had rejected Arnona payments to most businesses: "The municipality understands the distress in which businesses in the city find themselves as a result of the state of war in which the entire country finds itself. In light of this, the municipality has decided to ease the date of payment of municipal taxes to residents of Tel Aviv-Yafo and to most businesses, institutions and associations in the city – postponing the date to November-December 2023 is until December 31, without interest and linkage." The municipality added: "In addition, following the war, Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai instructed on an outline for granting businesses an exemption from various fees for October-December 2023, including exemption from fees for permits for tables and chairs, screens and night permits. It should be clarified that granting an exemption or freezing municipal taxes is under the authority of the state alone."
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